"The external petrosal nerve, with the greater and lesser petrosal nerves, stems from the geniculate (facial) ganglion and connects it to the middle meningeal artery (it may be absent). Of the few references that describe the nerve,1-5 two3,4 indicate it transmits sympathetic fibres from the ganglion to the middle meningeal artery, whereas one source5 reports that it transmits sympathetic fibres from the artery to the ganglion. The latter is likely correct. The middle meningeal artery should receive sympathetic innervation from the plexus surrounding the external carotid and maxillary arteries, not from a sensory ganglion (geniculate ganglion). To the contrary, the vessels within the geniculate ganglion, as with other sensory ganglion (e.g., dorsal root ganglia), do receive sympathetic innervation.6"
"The external petrosal nerve, with the greater and lesser petrosal nerves, stems from the geniculate (facial) ganglion and connects it to the middle meningeal artery (it may be absent). Of the few references that describe the nerve,1-5 two3,4 indicate it transmits sympathetic fibres from the ganglion to the middle meningeal artery, whereas one source5 reports that it transmits sympathetic fibres from the artery to the ganglion. The latter is likely correct. The middle meningeal artery should receive sympathetic innervation from the plexus surrounding the external carotid and maxillary arteries, not from a sensory ganglion (geniculate ganglion). To the contrary, the vessels within the geniculate ganglion, as with other sensory ganglion (e.g., dorsal root ganglia), do receive sympathetic innervation.6"
"Gross Anatomy"
Expected headings
"Gross Anatomy"
"The external petrosal nerve, with the greater and lesser petrosal nerves, stems from the geniculate (facial) ganglion and connects it to the middle meningeal artery (it may be absent). Of the few references that describe the nerve,1-5 two3,4 indicate it transmits sympathetic fibres from the ganglion to the middle meningeal artery, whereas one source5 reports that it transmits sympathetic fibres from the artery to the ganglion. The latter is likely correct. The middle meningeal artery should receive sympathetic innervation from the plexus surrounding the external carotid and maxillary arteries, not from a sensory ganglion (geniculate ganglion). To the contrary, the vessels within the geniculate ganglion, as with other sensory ganglion (e.g., dorsal root ganglia), do receive sympathetic innervation.6"